Life Of Pope John Paul Ll

BY THI

51.50

1 I MARVEL COMICS GROUP

l COMICS
l CODS

02218

THE ENTIRE STORY!

FROM HIS CHILDHOOD IN
POLAND TO THE
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT!

Marvel Comics Presents

The life of Pope John Paul II

Writer

Steven Grant

Penciier

John Tartaglione

Inker

Joe Sinnott

Letterer

Jim Novak

Colorist

Marie Severin

Editor

Tom DeFalco

Editor-in-Chief

Jim Shooter

Consulting Editors
Father Mieczyslaw Malinski
James Salicrup

Assistant Editors
Linda Grant
Lance Tooks

Traffic Manager

Virginia Romita

Special Thanks to Gene Pelc

Production Manager

Danny Crespi

Production

Ron Zalme
Rick Parker
John Morelli
Andy Y anchus
Joe Albelo
Rob Carosella
Harry Candelario
Bob Larkin

Editorial
Lea C. Sapp
Robert Harras

Typesetting

Eliot R. Brown

Interpreter

Lucy Mazareski

Additional Translations

Joseph Pelc

President James E. Gallon * Publisher Stan Lee
Vice-President, Publishing Michael Z, Hobson
Vice-President, Production Milton Schiffman * Vice-President, Circulation Ed Shukin

THE LIFE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II ™ Vol. i, No. I, 1982 issue. Published by MARVEL COMICS GROUP, James B, Gallon, President. Stan Lc, Publisher
Michael Z. Hobson, Vice-President, Publishing. Milton Schiffman, Vice-President, Production. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 387 PARK AVENUE SOUTH
NEW YOKK,N Y. 10016. Text copyright © 1982 Father Mieczyslaw Maiinski. All rights reserved Art copyright ©1982 by Marvel Comics Group, a division orCa
dence Industries Corporation. All rights reserved. Price SI .50 per copy in the U S. and $1 75 m Canada. Printed in the U.S.A. All business inquiries should be ad

*YAMe£ STAP/l/M

ISN'T UNUSUAL TO $&£ PEOPLE
THRON<3iN<S TO THE STAClUM, EVEN
AS LATE AS EARLY OCTOBER. HEW
YORK IS fILLCP WITH YANKEE
FANS,,, " ,WJ

“TOPAY, THOUGH

(S DIPP&RSNT
FROM MOST IN 4
VERY UAPORXAHT
WAY...

. I —

_

'■l".ll>l»l

Scis

v'^

' V

■ :

.

b;

1

||

&

J¥1

"MY EPITOR HAP UKEP MY STORIES ON THE POPE — HIS
0ACKSROUNP, HlS TOUR OF THE UNITEP STATES SO FAR.
I WASN'T SATIS REP, THERE WAS SOMETHING Al/SS/MS
FROM MY PORTRAIT OF ROPE JOHN RAUL XT, SOMETHING
I COULPN'T PUT MY FINGER ON ... " ,

2£&o>

"1 HOPEP TH AT
MAY8E X WOULP
•FINP IT AY£#£/"

“IT IS HERE THAT /T'A/ROL WOJTYLA — W HO WILL
GROW UP TO BE POPS— IS 0ORN, IN THE SHAPOW OF
THE 600 -TEAR -OVP CAT#£0#Ai- Of ST. M A AY IN
THE TOWN OP WAPOWlC£..,'j

WAROWICEiPOLANP, 1*20

"IT IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE FIRST WORLP WAR, ANP
POLANP, A LANP HELP IN CAPTIVITY FOR 123 YEARS, IS
AT LAST FREE OF OUTSlPE CONTROL. MOST RECENTLY,

"I SLANCEP IN ANGER AT THE TOUGHS/I KNEW THEIR
TYPE — HOOPLUMS WHO COME NOT TO LISTEN 0UT TO
JEER ANP TO PlSRUPT,.. WHAT CONNECTION COULP THE
POPE HAVE WITH THE LIKES OF THEM ? ",

? ■

"ANP, SITTING THERE , I THOUGHT PERHAPS J COULP ANSWER THAT QUESTION ANP ALL MY OTHERS... THAT PERHAPS
THAT MISSING ELEMENT MIGHT 0£ ALREAPY IN MV SR ASP, IF I ONLY WENT OVER MY FACTS ONCE MORE..,*

I WANT TO HEAR THE ] WHEN MASS I S

eemst. papa / when } to beoin. you

WILL THEY SOUNP J KNOW THAT A
Sw THE SELLS ? ^fitter*-- /'''&§

ATA/tOt.

IT '$ TIME
TO GO/

"THOUGH OF MOPES! MEAH$ &i CKiR STAHPARPS,
KAROL'S FAMILY 1$ COMF0PTA8LE IN POST-WAR
POlAHP. HI 6 FATHER SERVES AS A LIEUTENANT IN
THE ft>uSH ARMY, KAROL'S BROTHER , EPWAffP, piF-
TEEN YEARS HIS ELPERj ATTENDS MgPlCAl SCHOOL.,/'

HOW LOVELY \ HE'LL MAKE US PffOUP WHEN ST
KAROL LOOKS ) MARY'S ACCEPTS HIM AS AN ALTA A
IN HIS LITTLE / SOYS

* RESPITE THE PAlLY
PRESENCE OF THE
CAThEPRal, rr can't

BE SAIP THAT KAROL
IS ANY MORE PRE-
PiSPOSBP TOWARP
THE PRIESTHOOP
THAN ANY OTHER
POLISH BOY OF HIS
PAY. "

‘»nnn

'* STILL, IT CAN &£ SAlP THAT AS A 00V, KAROL
WOITYLA APPROACHES LIFE WITH A ZEAL THAT
OUTSTRIPS /WANV OF H IS CONTEMPDE API E£.. "

"WITH SCANT TIME TO SPARE BETWEEN
MASS ANP SCHOOL, HE PASHES HOME
FOR A QUICK BREAKFAST... "

THIS IS HIS PAILV LIFE... RISING BEFORE
PAWN TO SERVE AT THE MASS.,. "

•IN SCHOOL, HE LEARNS WITH A PA£$iOHt
THAT QUICKLY BRINGS HIM TO THE ATTEN-
TION OF HIS TEACHERS, A PASSION THAT
WILL LAST THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE ... *

"YET NOWHERE IS HIS ZEST FOR LIFE SO eviPeNTTHAN IN THE
SPORTS HE LOVES. BUT THE STRICT SCHEPULE GIVEN HIM BY HfS
FATHER LEAVES HIM UTTLE MORE TIME, THAN AN HOUR AFTER
SCHOOL MOST NIGHTS, FOR THESE PURSUITS... "

"IT'S SAFE
PlSClPLlNE

HERE COMES

worry la,

THE GOOPY-

MINE SAYS, “WHEN

ARE YOU \ I WILL MAKE YOU
TRYING TO \ LOOK BAP— IF YOU
MAKE US I TRY TO SCORE A
LOOK BAP, / POINT WHILE I'M j
KAROL ? vC GOALIE .'

Y-YES, F-FATHER.
I'M $0*8*/ I
l PlPN'T MEAN 70.

RUN QUICKLY
before we
SEES US ! _

Ft/FF/ANSf AFTER ALL THE TIM £5
I'VE TOLP YOU NOT TO PLAY BY THE
CHURCH / WHOEVER PIP THIS WILL >
BE PUNlSHEP —

YOU KNOW YOU SHOULP PLAY
ONLY IN THE HILLS/ BUT YOU'RE

Such a help to us at the church

... I suppose I CAN OVERLOOK
THIS... JUST THIS ONCE / ^

TV-THANK YOU,
FATHER / THANK
YOU VERY
V MUCH / ^

SOOP WORK.
KAROL l YOU
CAN BREAK
ALL THE
WINPOWS
FROM NOW ,
ON, OKAY ? J

COME ON / LET'S
GO TO THE HILLS
ANP FINISH THE
SAME /

I CAN'T/ IT'S
SETT l NS LATE
— I'LL MISS MY

. srup/es.'

OH, KAROL'S AFRAIP
HIS MOTHER WILL yeu,
AT HIM/

MAMA'S SOY!
MAMA'S SOY/

"IF THOSE ILL-CONSIPEREP SARSS
WOUNP KAROL'S YOUTHFUL PRlPE,

SO WHAT*
WE MISS
OUR

stupes/

IT WON'T

hurt

YOU '

“HAPPY. THAT IS, UNTIL HE IS

nine** ahp returns home

ONE PAY JO P(NP HiS WORi-P
CHANSEP FOREVER

OH, MY SON / HOW CAN
2

£AT//£Af WHAT'S
WRONG ? HAS SOME
THINS HAPPENEP 2 >

“THERE ISONLY PATHER ANP SON
NOW/ ANP TOOETXER THEY PiNP
STRENGTH IN THE SOLACE OP
THEiff LOVg.., " f imm _ MM~I

"WITH THE PE4TH OP KAROC'S
MOTHER, 80TH THE EuPER ANP
YOUNSER WOTTYLA ARE^mmm
CRUShtP Bv LOSS. " J®:; ;

HqOqO

"ANP, utile gY LITTLE, THE HURT
OF HI S MOTHER'S PEATH PlMINlSHES
— ANP HIS NATURAL HUMOR AN 0
OPTIMISM RETURN " f

"HE CONTINUES
with his stupies

ANP WORKS FOR
THE CHURCH/"

• ■

'

"THOUGH THE gl TTERNESS OF HI S
LOSS STATS WITH KAROL FOR A LONE
TIME, HE SOMEHOW RETURNS HlS
LIFE TO NORMAL-,, "

’’BY THE AGE OF II, KAROL'S REPUTATION —AT LEAST
AMONG HlS TEACHERS ANP FELLOW STUPENTS IN
wapowice— IS Secure... " 1 1 ■wsl1 nr;

/KAROL / HEY,
k WAIT UP/ v

f CAN WE COPY
YOUR HOMEWORK?

" PON'T WORRY/'T SAI P, ’’KAROL WILL
HAVE HIS WORK PONE — ANP PONE
RIGHT/ WE'LL GET IT FROM HIM / "

WE GOT BUS’
WITH A GAME
LAST NIGHT,
YOU KNOWZ.

WHAT PO
YOU SAY? HUH?

UH -OH / TAOU8LB/
TAKE OFF — BEFORE
WE'RE CAUGHT/

3000 MORNING,/ <3000
KAROL / y MORNING,

~i „ — I— SIR/

THANKS FOR
YOUR HELP,
KAROL ! WE
REALLY
APPRECIATE ,

AN \ MARK MY
EXCELLENT VVORPS/WITH
STUPENT, / HlS BRAINS,
THAT j HE'LL 86

wocttylaV soaieone
somepay.O

“WHEN KAR0L IS 12, PIASTER AGAIN
VlSl T$ HIS FAMILY— HlS BROTHER

spwapp, now a PocrcfZ'Ptee of

SCARLET FEVER, KAROL'S REACTION

"YET, HIS BROTHER'S
PEATH MAY HAVE
AFFECTEP KAROL MORE
THAN HE EXPRESSES '
SOON AFTERWARP/ HE
TAKES TO WANPERlNG
THE STREETS OF
WAPOWICE j LOST IN
SPELLS Of LONELINESS...

TO PEATt-i AT THIS AGE (S SOMEWHAT
AFFERENT THAN BEFORE.. - "

SO THIS IS THE HOME / THEY WERE FRIENPS OF EPWARP/ ^HElR
OF THE AAM/&Y . INVITATION FOR ME TO VISIT WAS KINP... I
XOTLAACXYK /■t-HOPe I'M NOT INTERRUPTING ANYTHING/

PO NOT BE SAP,
PAPA / THIS IS

OOP'S W/LLf

Wtff WE ARE ACTORS / PON'T
YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE
fc. THEATER ?/ ^

PARPON ME / X 1 LOOK

KNOCKEP, BUT NO ) YOU'R
ONE SEEMED T& i YOl
HEAR— Q#/ F

WHAT PO VVE ARE MAKING
YOU PO gACKPROPS FOR
HERE ? / PLAYS FROM TISSUE
EPWARP / PAPER, AS ANYONE
NEVER / CAN SEE/ BACK*
TOLP / PROPS THAT YOU
ME,,, A HAVE RUINED, I J
■u MIGHT APP /

NOT

REALLY.

jT THEN YOU MUST LEARN,
rAS ALL YOUNG PEOPLE
SHOULP/ FOR THEATER IS
NOT MERELY ACTORS ON A
STAGE, BUT A MEANS OF
TOUCHING THE HEARTS
ANP MINPS Of HUMANITY-
ANP BRINGING ABOUT THE
, IMPROVEMENT ANP
k ENLIGHTENMENT OF
THE HUMAN RACE/ .

euT../’

WHY?.

f -*

| i

|

rr?

U\ \

0Y THE WAY, WHO ARE YOU* J KAROL WOJTYLA. SlR

- \ EPWARP'S BROTHER

' ' ‘ Tr' ' |Y^~

AH, YES / OUR SYMPATHIES FOR HIS
uNTIAt£LY PASSING. JAM M/£CZYSLAW
tfOTLA&CZYK . FATHER ANP lEAPER
OF THIS ClAN OF PBiZPO RMERS /

PLEASE. SIR/ I \OF COURSE, AW FRlENP' THE
WANT TO,., HELP \ THEATER IS FOR ALL ! YOU .
REPAIR THE NEEPEP BUT TO ASK /

pamaob r-ve k-_,_ , , — — — ~ZA

pone . will vou UW£mm \\ /Mi

— let me Mm/ma \\ imm

join YOU ? jm Jrffifi ' 1 i

THAT ONE'S <3oT ENTHUSIASM ANP INTEL
LICENCE/ LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T At ARE
AN ACTOP OF HIM / ^

"FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL
YEARS, KAROL SPENDS HlS
FREE TIME EAGERLY AS-
SORTING KOTLARCZYK'S
LESSONS ANP LEARN! NS
THE WAY OF THE ACTOR. "

THAT SOY SPEAKING/
HE'S A VERY 0COQ
ORATOR/ ANP SEEMS
, TO 6E SUITE
v KNOWLEPOEABLE.'

HAPOL WOTTYCA ?/
HEAVENS.no/ HE
SAYS HE'S SOI NS TO
g£ AN... AN ACTOR / >

TELL ME-- IS HE PLANNING
TO JOIN THE PR/E&THOOP ?
WE COULP USE H/S SKILLS ^
IN THE CHURCH / ^

A#C#&/$ HOP OF CPACOW IN
OUR MlPSTY IS THERE SOMETH/ NS
V I CAN SET YOU , FATHER 2

'

" IT IS NOT A COURSE OF ACTION THAT SITS WELL
WITH EVERYONE -*ANP, AT 17, WHEN KAROL GIVE;

WITH EVERYONE -*ANP, AT 17, WHEN KAROL GIVES A
SPEECH AT HlS SCHOOL, PURlNS THE VISIT OF APCH
8? SHOP A PAM SrePAH $AP/£HA... “ ( rTIfTT

bi»/vj!I7 ■_ v . " ' :■ '''. rrr:r.rt ~

"AS KAROL'S HIGH SCHOOL PAYS BMP/ SO POES HIS
LIFE IN WAA0WIC6. TO CONTINUE HIS STUPlES, HE
MUST SO TO UNIVERSITY— ANP, FOR KAROL, THAT
MEANS THE FAMEP JAGtEllOWAK IN CRACOW,
WHERE COPERNICUS TURNER THE UNIVERSE INSIPE
OUT l — BJga H

TO LEAVE, YOU MEAN ? I RPN'T KNOW,..

SO MUCH LIFE HAS SEEN UVEP IN THIS
HOUSE-. - MEMORIES 3O0P ANP BAP. HOW PO
WE LEAVE SO MUCH LIFE 0EHINP ? ^

IT'S TIME.
ARE YOU...
XEA&Y*

TELL ME, FATHER —PC ]
YOU REGRET YOUR
P6CISION TO COME
WITH ME TO
CRACOW *

X,TOO, LOVE THIS HOUSE,
BUT IT IS ONLY MEMORIES
--ANP MEMORIES CANNOT
TAKE THE PLACE OF A
SON/

J WILL ALWAYS
HAVE MY
MEMORIES... MY
PLACE IS WITH

yoi/y

X KNOW. I REMEMBER WHEN X \ I WILL A l WAYS
FIRST H6ARP THE CHURCH BELLS LOVE THESE THINGS,
r SOMETIMES PEEL THAT MY ANP THIS HOUSE /
LIFE BEGAN ONLY THEN/ANP / BUT LIFE TAKES US
I'LL MISS THAT OLP SUNPlAL XV FAR AWAY,

ON THE CHURCH... //

'KAROL ANP HIS FATHER
TAKE AN APARTMENT IN
CRACOW, ANP KAROL
CONTINUES HIS STUPIES
ANP HlS ACTING. NEITHER
FATHER NOR SON CAN
SUES S THAT KAROL'S
CAREER at the jagiel-
LONIAN WILL LAST NO
MORE THAN A YEAR... "

FOR

YEAR

IS

/93S

ANP

THE

> : ■

Wmmm.

'•the PEOPLE OP GERMANY LISTEN to
THE MAPMAN ANP HIS PR6AMS OP
POWER. . ■ ANP. ON $£PT£M££/? 4
/939, KAROL WOJTYLA WALKS
TOWARP WAW£L £ATM£PPAL , OuT-
SI PE CRACOW* TO SERVE AT FIRST
PR I PAY MASS... "/

£Hf THAT'S
OPP/ WHAT'S
THAT NOIS6 ?,

I VfjgL. ANP A FEW HUNPREP MILES WEST OP POLANP, THE MAPMAN APPlF
| HITLER CONTROLS A NATION --ANP WAGES A CAMPAIGN OF TERROR ANP LIES . "

THE GERMANIC PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO
CONTROL THE WHOLE OF £U POPS ANP

TRANSFORM IT INTO A BLAH BLAH BLAH

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH

BLAH blah blah blah blah blah blah
BLAH 0LAH blah blah BLAH^

I".

H 3im t

GERMAN BOMBERS ?
t but WHY WOULP

|K THEY..,

OH, NO'

''KAROL WATCHES IN HORROR AS THE BOMBS PROP... ANP THE
PLANES ARE PftlVEN OFF BY POLISH ANTI -AIRCRAFT (SUNS... *

- %

£ <

COME, LET US CELEBRATE
THE MASS AS SCHEPULEP/
NOW THERE IS A GREAT .
//££P FOR PRAYERS ! A

“THEN HE HURRIES ON TO WAWEL CATH6PRAL

£AT//£P P/&LPW/CZ' ) X KNOW, OUR LANP
THE GERMANS HAV6--X IS AT IMAP.

'A •:! '■ ,

' POLAUP NEEP4 /MORE FROM HER PEOPLE THAN PRAYERS, HOWEVER / WITHIN PAVE, KAROL LEAVES CRACOW TO
JOIN UP WITH THE ARMY IN THE EAST--ANP JOINS THE £VER*OROWIN<5 PROCESStON OF REFUGEES* FLEEING
FROM THE GERMAN TERROR.., "j g

view it/

“WITH New PETERM I NATION, KAROL MARCHES TOWARD
THE EAST, UNKNOWN TO THE YOUNG MAN, THERE HAVE
BEEN NEW EVENTS... OF PlSASTRO US IMPORTANCE,,. "

//£&i0/ vo\jAfie Go\ue
S^Tl* THE wrong way/ the ARMY
IS IN THE EAST/ _

YOU ARE \#U$$/A *\/VO **€>#£/ HITLER

MlSlNFORMgP,MY / gUT WE PECLAREP POLANP PIS'
FfilENP/ THE y HAP A /SOLVEP, YOU SEE — ANP
$OY/£TS <VTR6ATY*'V WITH NO POLANP, THERE
SWEPT OVER \ IS HO TREATY / oR SO

OUR EASTERN
gORPERS-WE
ARE ATTACKS? ,
ON TWO,
FRONTS /

X FEAR OUR ARMY WILL RE UNABLE TO HANPLE ) Ol£> POOL / PON'T YOU
TWO WARS ON TWO PIFFERENT FRONTS/ V UNPERSTANP ? THE ARMY
— 5 — ri'ff irnfllh- FINISH EP/ flPLANP IS y

y?L ■\'^v // pinishep/

CALM YOURSELF

;->>siKw55Si

^/VrV/rA|(;.

tVA/T/
WHERE
ARE YOU
GOING?

we are in a periop of turaaoil

YES,., gUT I CANNOT RELIEVE
THAT IT WILL NOT, IN THE ENP,
LEAP TO A STRONGER, FREE ,
POLANP / WE WILL RECOVS%-ijQ&
VO NOT FEAR /

T#i/$TM$O0>
ANP VO NOT PESPAIR
--FOR BY PESPAIR,
YOU PO YOUR
ENEMY'S WORK
s. FOR HIM/ ^

BACK TO CRACOW --ANP WHATEVER IS
IN STORE FOR OUR COUNTRY/ y

;• :V'

"B> m\. tr i 5 4 PAR PIFFERENT CRACOW THAT
HOUSES KAROL WOJTYLA. FOLLOWING THE SURR6NPER
OP ITS gELEAOUEREP ARMY/ anp the escape op the
GOVERNMENT TO LONPON, ENSlANP,

POLANP'S PRE60PM IS GROUNP OUT

-Ts. THE NAZI gOOT, ANP ITS SPIRIT is ///^JKmssS^A
S? CONSTANT ATTACK... * #/H|i

HOW /MUCH CAN WE BEAR ? THE GERMANS *
CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS ANP CHURCHES, ROUNP
UP OUR PRIESTS, PESTROY OUR ART, EVEN ■<
PORSIP US THE USE OPOUfi LANGU ASS/ Jf

ttWTYtA.eH?
WORKER AT THE
SOLVAY CHEMICAL

Plant ? what are
■you WAITING for,
POLE ? You ARE
NEEPEP POR THE j
WAR EFFORT/

THEY SEEK TO REPUCE US TO
0#6/T£$, SUITABLE ONLY -
POR MBM/AL LABOR/ -*

WE MUST KEEP OUR ARTS ^
ANP LANGUAGE ALIVE, EVEN
IP rr IS UNPERGfiOUNO/

THE NAZIS WOULP PROBABLY
EXECUTE ME IF THEY
I.EARNEP X WAS IN THE
RHARSOPlC THEATER,,.

... BUT IT IS
WORTH THE
RISK TO KEEP
MY ART- -ANP
OF

WGJTYtA/ } / THERE WAS ANOTHER fiAtP ^ ^POOPPEV ILS/ I'VE HEARP
YOU MAY / LAST NIGHT— JUST POWN / < OP A PLACE NEAR

ENTER/ y \ THE STREET/ J-£W$, 1 .■ AV$CHWfT2 THEY ARE

^ _ THINK. IN Hi PINS * - \ SENT TO,.. ^

THE NEXT (OP NOfiWlP'S POETRY,

/V£/A/' NO TALKING
AMONG LABORERS.1
VGET TO WORK/ >

^\\mv\m\\\^\iAv\

"MORNtH<3 CRAWLS INTO LUNCHTIME AT THE FACTORY,
BUT THE NOON MEAL BRINGS LITTLE MORE THAN A
PEW PIECES? OF BREAP.., "

' THAT'S YPUR RATION
FOR THE PAY,.. SAME
AS YESTERPAY/

WHAT'S THIS ? X
NEEP MORE 0REAP.‘
THIS ISN'T >
ENOUGH /

A/O/T
NEEP
MORE /
PLEASE:

I WPULP LIKE V SURE, 0UT WHY? A LOT OF GOCP
TO PRAY. A YOUR PRAYERS PIP WHEN GERMANY

, \ WAS SMASHING THROUGH OUR J

^Ovl X. WESTERN GATE,

HEY (LEAVE HIM ALONE/
THE PRAYERS CAN’T HURT,
THAT’S FOR SURE

"WITH HlS THEATER GROUP, HE HELPS TO
PRESERVE THE WORK IN PERFORM ANCE OF
ROUSH POSTS ANP PLAYWRIGHTS,., '>

IN THE CRISIS OF THE GERMAN OCCUPATION, KAROL BlPSS HlS TIME WAITING FOR PREEPOM, PILUNG HlS LIFE
WITH A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES.-, " j .

"UNP6R THE GUIDANCE OF THE FABLEP ’MYSTICAL TAILOR OF
CRACOW', 0»/V TY&AHOWSKt . KAROL PELVES FURTHER INTO
THE RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF HlS BEING, AS A MEMBER OF THE
UNPERGROUNP UV/Af<S OOSAAY... “ /-TTT- — . I', . ',f«„ ■■■■

"AT THE FACTORY, HE WORKS PlLIGENTLY — FOR WHILE HlS
BOPY IS F0RC6P TO LABOR FOR THE GERMANS »KAfiOL‘S MINP
IS FREE, ANP ACTIVE,,, *

**ANP IN THOSE FEWMOME NTS OF SOUTUQB,
KAROL TRIES HlS HANP AT WRITING S OWN
TV GIVE VOICE TO THOSE FEELINGS

POETRY,

WHICH KNOW NO VOICE,.,

YET, IN THOSE VAYf OF W41, EVEN THE FORCES CALM IN KAROL'S SOUL CANNOT LAST.

T'AI HOME
FATHER.,.

WAKE UP, IT'S TIME
. FOR LUNCH / v

I'M SORRY, WOJTYLA ! BUT HE WENT
. OUICKLY--A HEART FAILURE... U

HE WAS A
GOO0 /MAN

WHAT \|i-
WILL YOU )
VO NcrH^J :

^ I... MUST GO SOME-
WHERE ELSE/ I CAN-
NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT
OF LIVING... THERE...

. NOT WITHOUT HIM / ^

"FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, KAROL WOJTYLA STAYS
WITH FRlENPS ANP CONTINUES HIS STUPlESAND HIS
WORK AT THE CHEMICAL PLANT... " /■■

“YET NOW HIS SPIRIT, SEVERER FROM ITS ROOTS IN
THE FAMILY, TAKES FLIGHT IN OTHER £>1 SECTIONS - "
ANP HE BEGINS TO COMMIT HlS INNERMOST FEELINGS
ANP OBSERVATIONS TO POETRY WITH GREATER
FREQUENCY... " - - - —

LATER.

or

■&T-.

r

r..<

"ANP MORE THAN EVER, HE TURNS
TO PRAYER , FOR IT IS HlS ONLY
SOLACE IN THESE TIMES... "

LET US PRAY

WE HAVE NEEP OF YOUR
STRENGTH , WOJTYLA /
MAY WE ...

MAY WE
JO/A/
YOU ? y

/WHAT?' IF THE
GUARPS HAVE CAUGHT
ME... WHY WASN'T ANY-
ONE WATCHING?

"IN WARTIME POLAND, THE PAYS DRAG ONE INTO
THE OTHER, WITH LITTLE NEWS OF THE WAR'S
PROGRESS. 4LW4YS THERE IS THE THREAT OF
THE GERMAN 0ULLET OR THE GERMAN CAMP... "

HEY, IT'S OM.Y A POLE/
TOO MANY OF THEM AS
V IT lS/ ^

I TOLD YOU WE HIT SOMETHING
SOMEONE'S LYING OUT THERE
V HURT/

HE'S WAKING
UP/ <3000/ >

OHHHH

r4 POSP/TAL * WH-WHAT
AM I DOING HERE ? X
WAS ON THE ROAp, ANP
THEN,,, NOTHING/

YOU WERE RUN DOWN 0Y
THE GERMANS A PAY AND
A HALF AGO. YOUR INJUR-
IES ARE SAP— YOU'D 0£
DEAD IN A PITCH IF A
WOMAN HADN'T FOUND
YOU AND 0ROUGHT

"AFTER HIS RELEASE, KAROL LOOKS FOR THE WOMAN
TO THANK HER , WITHOUT SUCCESS. LIKE SO MANY
OTHERS IN WARTIME POLAND, SHE HAS VANISHED

X'M GLAD YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, KAROL. X WAS SO
WORRIED,., X 0ROUGHT YOU A 0OOK TO REAP

"YOUNGANP STRONG, KAROL MAKES
A SPEBPV COMEBACK- ANP SHORTLY
AFTER HIS RELEASE PROM THE
HOSPlTAI "

AM* NIGHT
OH TH€ SOi/C-
gv jvm/v
OH TH£
CHOSS/

YOU'LL LIKE IT/ rr concerns the
problems of faith IN TIMES of

APVERSlTY.,,

0Y THE WAY, THE OTHERS IN
THE LIVING ROSARY HAVE
SEEN PRAYING FOR YOUR

recovery..

"KAROL REAPS THE BOOK MANY TIMES, WNPlMG IN IT A
NEW CORNERSTONE FOR MlS SPIRITUALITY, "

IT'S ROUGH THESE
PAYS... WHY PON'T
YOU USE MY
APARTMENT? A

AVOIDING THE BUTCHERS
MOSTLY. ANP LOOKING
FOR SOMEWHERE TO ,
. LIVE/ ANY I PEAS ON A
V THAT f

■ ’ 1 ;

£Pi.€N£>/C>/
WE-LL STAY
THERE
TOGETHER
ANP WORK
ON OUR
CRAFT/

I HEARP ABOUT THAT, ANP I'M
VERY SORRY, KAROL-- BUT THAT
HAPPENEP SO LONG AGO / THERE
IS A TIME FOR GRIEF, MY FfilENP/
ANP A TIME FOR PRACTICALITY /
RETURN WITH ME / T INSIST UPON

I PlPN'T WANT... TO BE
ALONE THERE/ BUT.,.
ALL RIGHT/ WE'LL ,

WHAT A THEATER WE'LL
CREATE WHEN POL ANP IS
FREE AGAIN ! IT WILL gE
THE GLORY OF THE A
. HUMAN RACE..,

IT WILL
BE FINE
YOU'LL

SEE/ y

KAROL HEARS THE WORPS, BUT WITH

"PURING THESE YEARS Of THE OCCUPATION , KAROU
WATCHES HIS COUNTRY SUFFERING. HE SEES WHOLE
FAMILIES PlSAPPEAR FoREVER INTO THE CONCENTRA-
TION CAMPS,.*iiii u j iim Mii|w;gi|| «/ . — « V

"HE SEES CHILPREN GROWING UP WITH NO KNOW-
LEPGE OF THEIR CULTURE OR HERITAGE —ANP NO
RESPITE FROM THE PBAft ANP HATREP THAT EROPES
THEIR SOULS...^rc—r' aro

aw. JiL. g

"THE CHILPREN/ THAT'S WHAT gOTHERS HIM / FOR
THE CHILPREN ARE THE FUTURE OF FOLANP— ANP
IF THE SOUL OF THE FUTURE JS PESTROYEP, WHAT
HOPE REMAINS ? t itj

HEY/ KAROL
WAIT UP,'

MIETEK

X PIPN'T EXPECT TO
RUN INTO YOU IN
THIS PART OF TOWN,

"ANP SLOWLY,., EVER
SO SLOWLY,., A PECf-
SION IS M APE/*

WELL, YOU'LL
HAVE TO WALK
WITH ME THEN.
IT'S URGENT
THAT I SET /

to wAwec.y

J'M (SLAP I RAN
INTO YOU. WE
HAVEN'T HAP MUCH
CHANCE LATELY
TO TALK AT THE
UV/NG AOSAGYl
MEETINGS,

H'tfVKEZ. CASTte?
THAT'S GREAT—

X HAVEN'T SEEN
t THERE IN A , j
V LONG Tl Me//

WHY ARE
YOU GOINS

. there ? ,

"WAWEL CASTLE
(S WH£R£ THE1
KINGS OF ftJLANP
ONCE LIVEPi A STRUC-
TURE COMPRISING
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
OF COURTS ANP
CATfHEPRA LS... "

"BUT NOW, INSTEAP OF
t<IN<2$j IT HOUSES Z>/R.

fi#ANt<, GERMAN
GOVERNOR- GENERAL OF

TOlanp, yet still the

PRIESTS RUN THE CATHE
PRAL, STILL THE MASS IS

A P/t/GST FROM WAPOWICE IS
THERE— FR. FIGLEWICZ/ HE'S
AN OLP FRlENP,,, ANP X NEEP
HIS APVICE ...

//ALT' WHAT IS V OUR
BUSINESS HERE ? ^

AIO/MENTS LATER

FATHER ?
MAY X
COM£ A
IN ? ^

i wish ro see

A PRIEST, A ,
FATHER T
FIGLEWICZ .)

OF COURSE/
YOU'RE ALWAYS
WELCOME, BUT...
WHAT BRINGS YOU
^ HERE TOPAY?

TA. 1
I KNOW
OF HIM.

MOMENTS LATER

FATHER ?
MAY X
COME A
IN ? ^

OF COURSE/
YOU'RE ALWAYS
WELCOME, BUT...
WHAT 0RINOS YOU
^ HERE TOPAY?

ALL RIGHT
(SO IN.

0UT ONLY Y
YOi/ <50 IN

to see the

PRIEST.' YOUR
FRIENP
MUST WAIT j
OUTS I PE. A

BUT ITS NOT
ENOUGH / X NEEP
TO PO MORE... ANP
l X HAVE BEEN
k THINKING,,. .

FATHER FISlEWI CZ ARRANGED it WITH PPCM~/ IF THE //A2f£ VQH'T
&/SPOP SAP/&/A I'M TO BECOME 4 >C CATCH YOUi

SECRET S&VUNAfflAN — k r if?

r WELL —YES, THERE 1$
TV^ir BUT they DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY SEMI-
NARIANS THERE ARE IN
, THE FIRST PLACE, j

n j.- .TlfLA

-

ANP WHAT ABOUT YOUR ACTINO ? IT'S NOT
RUSHT FOR VOU TO BE SOME PARISH PRlEf
CHATT£RtNO TO JUST A HANDFUL. ABOUT
MORALITY/

AS AN ACTOR, YOU MlOHT
ENRICH THE WHOLE WORLD/
WHERE CAN THE 0P/£$T-
//OOP TAKE

A /UA/V OP (SOO CAN ENRICH THE LIVES
OF HIS FELLOWMEN. ANP WHEN THE WAR

is over, Poland will need priests— if

IT IS TO SURVIVE SPIRITUALLY A-S WELL

PM SORRY, MY
FRIENP- -//OTHtA/G
YOU CAN SAY WILL
DISSUADE ME FROM
THE PRXESTHOOO!

A/y WOPPSS SOMEDAY YOU'LL LOOK DOWN
ON YOUR VILLAGERS, AND YOU'LL THINK OF THE
ACTOR THAT YOU COULD HAVE SEEN -- AND YOU’LL
SAY, "T COULD HAVE HAP THE WOGL0, gUT r SAVE

"... ANP KAROL EAGERLY PURSUES HlS
New VOCATION AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY
WHlte HIS FELLOW FACTORY WORKERS
TAKE A LUNCH break, HE CONTINUES

READING... ‘>i

** YET, AS THE

WAR DRAGS TO AN END EVENTS M
ARE OCCURRING IN POLAND... *

‘.‘THE NAZIS NOW
FEAR THAT THE
REBELLION WILL
SPREAD THROUGH-
OUT POLAND... "

Aif&l/ST, /9V<// IN WARSAW, SOME ISO MILES NORTH OF CRACOW,
THE POLES BREAK INTO OPEN REVOLT, EXPECTING SUPPORT FROM
THE INVADING SOVIETS, SUPPORT THAT NEVER COME

"ON AUGUST 7 / IRU-.H- -- SLACK SUNPAy — THE WORD
GOES OUT: ROUND UP ALL ABLE- (JODI ED MALES IN CRACoW
— AND BREAK THE SACK OF THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION/'

MDU HAVE YOUR TEACH THESE PEASANTS
ORDERS / V* THAT WE WILL ALLOW NO

— — , r- threats to the welfare

,Jsl THE GERMAN PEOPLE '

POLS/ SHOW
YOURSELF / >

"BUT THERE IS NO ANSWER, AND THE
SEARCH FOR WOJTYLA f£ SUDDENLY
INTERRUPTED 8V THE SOLDIER'S

Superior... "/

I 'PA/VATS/ COM£ Efl

VUPSTAIRS— OUICKLY/ Qr

VES,

SERGEANT

"IN THE
CONFUSION
KAROL'S

r//£6£fiMAM& ARE TAKING IN
ANYONE WHO MlSHT RAISE A
HANP TO SUPPORT THE
WARSAW REBELS...

I THOUGHT YOU'P SEEN
CAUGHT' THEY WERE
OUST HERE--

FATHER F\<s>l£\\\CZ ?)l THOUGHT X WAS TOO L4T£
WHAT ARE YOJ / ARCHEiSHOP SAPlEHA HAS PSCIPEP
POINTS HERE - IT \$ TOO V AHGEROUS FOR YOU rO

STAY OUT IN THE WORlP ANY-
THING couuP happen.

TOMORROW MORNING r WILL SMUGGLE YOU INTO
the ARCHBISHOP'S HOUSE, there YOU vvtu_ STuFY
ANP REMAIN SAFE UNTIL THE WAR'S ENP.

BE REAP Y.

IS THAT IT ?
ARE you
GOING ? J

YES, I,., WANT TO <30.

thank you , anp eiess

YOU , MV FRIENP. BUT
PO N'T ACT LIKE WE‘LL
k NEVER SEE EACH
k. OTHER AGAIN.

IT ISN'T MY PEClSlON
MlECZYSLAW. I AM
OOP'S MAN NOW,

well, none op that matters -now,
stay safe, karol, anp may all the

WORlP’S LUCK — - - - ■ Mj ird

ae with you, l %vv\ I

THAT MORNING

KAROL , I'VE 5AIPS0ME HARSH
THINGS ABOUT YOU ANP THE PRIEST-
HOOP, 0UT... X WANT YOU TO KNOW-.

FATHER,

SUPPENLY,

PONT ANSWER / WHAT
IP THE PLOT HAS
FAILEP ? IT COULP 8£
TAfS eeSTAPO OR--

"OUICKLY ANP SILENTLY THE
TWO MEN MOVE THROUGH THE
STREETS OF CRACOW... " «

OOOP0YE , KAROL / MAY
JSOP SB WITH YOU /

■ ■

CIRCLE NOW

A#/ HERE \S THE ' PIP YOU HAVE ANY A BIT/ NOTHIN (3

LA5T OF OUR LITTLE / 7XOt/8L£ (SETTING/ TO 9PBAH OF...

PUT THIS CASSOCK ON A ... BUT THEY WILL PACK
THE NAZIS WILL. SUS- US OFF TO CONCENTRATION
peer NOTHING IF I
HAVE VOUNS PRIESTS

in my House...

BY TOMORROW, THEY WILL
DISCOVER YOU MiSSINO
FROM YOUR WORK DETAIL.
I WILL see IF X CAN'T
PO SOMETHING ABOUT
THAT,

TH £ GERMANS PONT KNOW \ THIS Id YOUR ROOM - -AT LEAST
QUITE HOW MANY STUDENTS FOR THE DURATION, WE HAP TO
X HAVE —AND X WOULDN'T / SKIMP ON LUXURY, UNFORTUNATELY
WANT THEM TO HAVE AN / — BUT YOU'LL FINP THINOS COM-
EXACT COUNT yV PORTABLE ENOUSH.

YOU MAY HAVE
FULL USE OF MY

house, but stay

INStPE ANP KEEP
AWAY FROM THE
V WINPOWS,

YOU MAY HAVE
FULL USE OF MY
HOUSE, BUT STAY
INStPE ANP KEEP
AWAY FROM THE
V WINPOWS,

THESE ARRANGEMENTS
WILL ONLY Be NECESSARY
UNTIL THE RUSSIANS
PRIVE THE E6RMANS
OUT, WHICH SHOULD BE
A fAATTe R OF PAYS.

X HAVE OTHER
BUSINESS NOW.
MAKE
AT HOME
SHALL SEE
SOON.

BUT

AP/VACY?

A#c#e/$#op/

FORGIVE ME,

.. WHAT A SOI

THERE ARE NO SECRETS FROM

<soot my son — look upon

earthly EXPfzes-

"KAROL VWJTYL4
ANP HlS FELLOWS
LIVE WITH CON-
STANT vigilance.
THEN, SEVERAL.
WEEKS LATER... "

COME IN

SAP/eHAf
I HAVE SOME GUESTlONS.
A0OUT YOUR SEMINARIANS.

WOULP YOU ) ONLY ANSWERS, PLEASE, IN I9SS, WE OPA-
LINE SO^E } CIOUSLY ALLOWEP THOSE IN SEMINARYTO
TEA ? ./ CONTINUE THEIR STUPIES. NONE HAVE

IT-™ r^k. V6T GKAPUATEP, Five YEARS LATER, -tf

rVJPMTT

THE STUPIES HAVE
BEEN PROLONGEP
FOR ONE YEAR, *

OVERLONG, ARCH 0ISHOP- -OR WE WILL
HAVE A LENGTHIER CHAT, ANP ONE J
NOT NEARLY AS PLEASANT .rtrffll

T hu <5oop pay. >1 iifnTT r&SX:

*♦ wew/;

eXCELLGMCY/ ) NO, THEY \ BUT SU0 ANSWERS
PIP THEY-- ? y KNOW NOTHING WON'T SATISFY

' -< OF OUR EXTRA / THEM NEXT TIME-

\ | V STUPENTS. ,/ ANP I FEAR IT WILL

\ ^ — -< BE AUSCHWtTZ

\ ^ - for the lot

here, you will se safe in

MV CELLAR, MY SERVANT
WILL SO, TOO, TO TAKE J
CARE OF YOU, ^ %

"8Y JANUARY OF IMS, THE RUSSIANS FINALLY UiJJ
INVAPE CRACOW..." , * ^

J THAT'S NOT THE ELARlNG OF
WEAPONS / IT'S THE THUNPER
OF OUR RESCUERS /

WHAT Oc YOU i YOUR
EXCELLENCY? IT'S
L PANSEROL'S TO
|]V STAY... ^

the shelling

IS COMING VERY
NEAR / \A

IF ONLY THERE \ ALL WE
WERE SOMETHING J CAN PO
WE COULP PO... J NOW,,, li

WHAT WILL IT 6E

like when we

COME OUT ? PO
YOU THINK WE'LL

see a rep flag ,

OR THe „ A
SWASTIKA?^®

HEY, KAROL/

i/sreA// a

THE SHELLING ) T#ATf$
HAS STOPPEO ! J #/G#T/ ONE

_ — -T WAV OR

\/ l ANOTHER,

V ; A CRACOW IS

t \ NOW AT

V PEACE ! A

«FOR THE NEXT 36
PRAYEPMUCH ANP
LITTLE, THEN... "*

HOURS, THEY
Slept a

WONPER WHAT
TIME IT IS ? >

r TO ^
WATT
t CAN'T
HEAR ANY-
THING...

WHAT'S THE MATTER, LAZY

Bones ? why are you

THERE — WHEN WE HAVE
^ WORK TO VO ?

TH6 NAZIS ARE SONS?
ASACIY GONE ? THE
WAR IS OVER ?

X WAS NOT JOKtNO ABOUT
WORK. THE SHELLING BLEW
OUT ALL THE WINDOWS — J

anp they must be ^
J?£PLACC£>/

WAR WILL
NOT g£ OVER
UNTIL THE ALLIES
MARCH ACROSS
Germany, but,., yes,

GOR POLANP, THE
WAR IS OVER/

“TH4T AFTERNOON, WHILE KAROL IS FIXING THE
FRONT WlNPOWS... "/-• - ■ ■■■

WHAT COULP
THEY WANT

. HERE ? ^

LOOK/ SOLPIERS
ANP THEY'RE
STOPPING/

„.I BRIN® GREETINGS FROM THE
SOVIET UNION TO ARCHBtSHOP _

SAPlEHA , 4/fi/C*OWM££> l€AP£G.
OF THE POLISH PEOPLE/ V

"SOON , THE ARCHSlSHOP'S RESIPENC6 IS THE 6CBNG OF REVELRY, AS ft? LE ANP RUSSIAN CHEER THE LIBER
ATI ON OP A LANP... " mkt 7 7T

WHERE ARE \ NO, NO,,. GO \ IT HAS BEEN SIX
YOU GOING? ] AHEAP WITH \ MONTHS SINCE
|£ SOMETHING j YOUR PARTY, X I LAST PASSEP
THE MATTER ?/WOULP JUST / THROUGH THESE

. t-t ■Hf like to see 1^- gates.

Te / A. SOME PEOPLE, Mfak-r —

the worlp has change? so much,,, ahp &
LITTLE, people still, supper prom the
WAR... SOLPIERS still WALK THE STREETS,
THOUGH THEY ARE NOW OUR FRISNOS, NOT
OUR CONQUERORS

"a np wh at~op~J
KOTLARCZYK ? ?

Mi:-

sesin ?

1 1 1

lj! 82 v Es 1 E z

SNIFF.

WHAT’S IN THERE
I WON PER ?

"PAYS LATER, KAfZOL ANP H 15
FELLOW SEMINARIANS TAKE
UPON THEMSELVES AN AWE-
SOME TASK : REPAIRING THE
CLP SEMINARY THAT HAP
SEEN CUJSEP ANP OCCUPIEP
gv THE GERMAN T ROOFS... "

X REMEM SSR , . . THIS WA S WHERE PO WE

A BEAUTIFUL PLACE

BEFORE THE WAR. THE
GERMANS CHAN(3EP /
THAT / WHAT A MESS/ >

— ^ / EVERYONE SHOULP ^

MR? « ( PICK A ROOM ANP START ■

^ CLEANING, XtSUESS. Zil

TTT'-^Yw -A

THE SESMANS
NEVER F1KEP THE
v PLUMfJlNS... a

OV, ,V<0/ THAT'S
PlSGUSTINiS/ a

SOMEONE
WILL HAVE
T O...CL£AH

. rr out...

NEVER MINP
k CLEAN IT

SHALL WE PRAW

STRAW'S, OR ?

“WITHIN PAYS, THE SEMINARY IS IN WORKING OR PER- -
ANP THE SEMINARIANS TURN ThE/R EYES OPTIMI--
STICALuY TOWARP THE FUTURE... " i

. — . . / LFT'4 PC AY

1 - 1 '■ — ~ — ■ tci 7 r “tM ’

IT WON'T BE LONS NOW/ THE \ THE WAR ENPS VERY
SOVIETS HAVE PRJVEN THE SOON . THEN THE

GERMANS BACK PAST THEiR / SOVIETS WILL SO
OWN 6CRPE2S/ EN ELAN P. / HOME, ANP LEAVE

FRANCE/ ANP AMERICA PUSH A POLANP To ITSELF
INTO SERMANY FROM THE^/ A<3AIN,

WEST... — —

_J"THe WAR PO£$
Si ENP SOON...*

* BUT THE SOVIETS Ft? NOT LEAVE ... ANP, ONCE
ASA IN', POLANP LIVES NOT IN THE WANP OF FREE-
DOM, BUT IN THE SRlF OF THE CONQUEROR. THE
RUSSIANS REFUSE TO LET THE POLISH GOVERN -
MENT- IN- EXILE RETURN FROM LON PON. INSTEAP,
THEY INSTALL THEIR OWN PUPPETS.

THEY L/££> TO U S/ ThE ALLIES SAlP THEV WOULP
FREE uS BUT THEY SCl£> US TO THE RUSSIANS AT
ROTS PAM ANP >AlTA / HOW CCULP THEY A?0 IT ? V

CALM YOURSELF, FRlENP, Tw’E SHALL OUTLIVE ^A
I, TOO, FINP THIS NErVVS COMMUNIST AS

Pi STRESSING-- BUT THE
RULE Or N42IISM M'AS
A TRIAL W£

SUCVIVEP,

" NOWHERE IS (leSt STANCE TO THE SOVIETS GREATER
THAN IN THE CHURCH , FOR POLANP \S LARGeLV
CATHOLIC- YET, ONE PAY AT THE SEMINARY,,, "

I HAVE SEEN YOUR \ I- 1 PON'T KNOW WHAT TD
PRIESTS / I APMlRE l SAY/ BECOMING A PRIEST IS
THEM SREATLY, ANP / NO EASY THINS, NOR SHOULP
X WISH TO KNOW— /IT 66 UNP6RTAKEN LlSHTLY.

MAY r sTO/W TH £ , -gt"* 1

SEMINARY ? ZSjZ&lt: iA l

TAKE THIS CROSS ASA SYMBOL OP CHRIST'S
LOVE— ANP CON6IP6R YOU R COURSE OP ACTION.
IF YOU TRULY PESlRE TO BECOME A PRIEST,
COME BACK ANP W£ WILL PlSCUSS IT
FURTHER.

HOW STRANGE ARE GOO'S WAVS
HOW PIP THE COMMUNISTS, WHO
SEEK TO STAMP OUT REUNION
ANP HOLY WORSHIP, EVER PRO -
PUCE ONE SO HU KORY FOR
: ^ ^ ^ SOP ?

-TO KAROL WOTTYLA , THE EVENT IS A SION — 4
SISN THAT THE HUMAN SPIRIT CANNOT TRULY BE
CRUSHEP. in OOP'S EYES, ALL 7HINSS ARE POSSI-
BLE,..

•THEN, WEEKS LATER, KAROL REACHES THE GOAL
OP HIS STUPIES— HE IS 0RP4INEP BY THE ARCH-
BISHOP ASA PRIEST IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH... *

* YET ARCHBISHOP
SAPIEHA HAS NOTtCEP
SOMETHING GREAT IN
THIS YOU NS PRIEST,
ANP KAROL IS CALLEP
BEFORE him:.

YOU SHOW
.REMARKABLE
TALENT, FATHER
WOTTYLA, BUT

1 POLANP IS NOT
A PROPER
place for

STUPIES AT THE
MOMENT...

YOU
AGKEP
TO SEE
ME,
ARCH-
BISHOP?

THEREFORE , T AM SEN-
DING you to Rome,

WHERE YOU MIOHT TRULY

ftp PUT TO TUP. T£4T

"FOLLOWING HlS MONTHS OF SCHOOLING IN ROME, KAROL GOES HOMS, ANP iS ASSIGNED TO TEACH CHILPREN IN
THE UTTLfi VILLAS Of NI&SOWlC - - A TASK FOR WHICH HE IS EMINENTLY SUITEP... " —

1 1^™

YOU ALL PIP VERY WELL. TOPAV — ANP YOU
v MAY ALL HAVE A PIECE OF CANPY/ V

V.'XvX-X'lOX

Wv>K'K<->y.

?

WELL, ONE THING'S
CERTAIN - HE LOVES
CHILDREN/ -

MMPH/ rr ISN'T (Z\GHT.'J

A PRIEST SHOULPN'T
SPOIL THE CHILPREN
gY El VI NO THEM HIS
OWN SUPPLIES
LIKE TH AT/

“SAPIEHA, NOW A CAPPfNAL
SOON REASSIGNS THE YOU!
PRIEST TO ST. PLOW AN#
CATWPfiAC IN CRACOW...

^£2®

“IN 1950/ FATHER WOXTYLA MAKES A SECRET TRIP TO THE OFFICES OF THE CAT HO
LlC WEEKLY, A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER IN CRACOW-.. "

YOU'RE SPEAKING
TO HIM. HOW CAN
X HELP YOU,
k FATHER ? .

X'M SoR RY TO INTERRUPT... COULP
YOU POINT ME TO THE E0\TOR — a
V jrtfaZY 7V&OW/CZ?

WH AT'S I THOUGHT YOU
THIS ? / MISHT LIKE TO SEE
M atf ... MY PCSMS/ IF
, I OH THEY ARE ANY (SCOP,
■ 3m anp YOU WANT TO .
IHk PUBLISH THEM... J

<5000* FROM WH4TX
CAN SEE, THESE .
ARE FINE/

IF YOU PUBLISH
ANY , PLEASE
CREPIT THEM
TO “ANPRZEJ y
JAWIEN," jAfi

ALL RK3HT, HUT
J PONT KNOW
WHY YOU WOULPN'T
WANT YOUR OWN,
NAME ON THEM/

•'YET, THIS FINE PERIOP IN KAROL'S LIFE
15 MARREO BY THE PtEAT/Y OF CARPlNAL
SAPlEHA. THOUGH KAROL FEELS THE
LOSS, PERHAPS MORE THAN MOST, HE
VOW S TO FILL THE VACUUM LEFT 6Y
SAPfEHA'S PASSING, ANP TO TRY HARPER
TO BRINGS SPIRITUAL LEAPERSHIPTO HlS
PEOPLE... " |M— 111 . i„i, J J

11 THE POEMS, ABOUT KAROUS EXPERIENCES OF THE PAST ZO
years, are a smash hit IN CRACOW... "I

WAIT YOUR TURN/ THE) OBVIOUSLY A F>E<V
MAN'S BRILLIANT— / MAMe/ I WONPER
SUCH TALENT- ANP /WHO HE RE4LLY IS?
SO MUCH FEELING/ ' Z-—- rtf

MORE “TAWIEN
POEMS '? LET

me see/

UKW

"AT ST. FLORIAN'S, ANP LATER AT ST.
CATHERINE'S, KAROL EMPHASIZES
OUTIMSS—SKHHG IN THE WINTER,
HIKING IN THE SUMMER— FOR HI S
YOUNG PARISHIONERS...

FINP THE LOCAL
PRIEST ANP TRY TO
k SET LOPSINS >
\WITH HIM, >$£

"HE FREQUENTLY TAKES SABBATICALS HIMSELF,
ALONE OR IN THE COMPANY OF CLOSE FR IENPS.,. "

IT'S SETTING Tate , MIETEK// THERE'S A TOWN
SHOULPN'T WE SET UP CAMP/ POWN THERE, LET'S I
FOR THE NK3HT? ‘

X'M SORRY FOR
BOTHERING YOU.
WE WERe WON PER
INS IF WE MIGHT
l STAY HERE FOR
k THE NIGHT,,. >

fXTyv^f"

STAY HERE f/
ARE YOU PRIESTS?

"HOWEVER, AT THE HOUSE... "

PA/£$T$/ TRAVELLING WITHOUT
CASSOCKS ?! IT'S PfSGEACEFUL/ NO
WONPER RESPECT FOR THE CLERGY
IS THREATENEP/ SLEEP IN THE ,
gARN IF YOU'RE TIREP — X WON'T /
HAVE YOUR KINP IN MY HOUSE / y

£S I f ANP BE SLAP X)
gg l PON'T REPORT } III

\ \ YOU TO THE /

■H M \ BISHOP/ / il

seorge/ of course? vou've

SERVED AT MASS fOR ME --4ND
VOU'Ve BEEN ON SOME OF M Y
OUTINGS/ HOW ARE YOU ?>

*pespite suspicion by older priests and even the

new PRIMATE of POLANP, CAPP/AAC WYSZyNSM
WITHER W0TTYLA SEEKS FOR N6W WAYS TO SPREAI
CATHOLICISM, EVEN AS HE LECTURES AT SEMINARS
AND AT THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY AT LUSLlN... "

"FOR HE PERC&VES THAT THE TIMES ARE CMAN<3IN<3,ANP
THE CHURCH MUST CHANOE WITH THEM,., OR DIE... "

FATHER ? DO
YOU REMEM0ER
ME~-G£OAGE
Ct€$/£L$Kt

HAVE YCHJ EVER
TRIED AC A YA A/ /VS t.

KAYAK I NO ? HMM /

X WAS wonperins, father— I
heard you were an avid hiker

AND SKIER, AND YOU LIKE A j

soop same of soccer...

"T HESS OUTINGS

provide a perect

SETTING FOR KAROC
TO COMMUNE WITH

others, Both lay

CHURCHMEN AND
STUDENTS.,, "

we COME ALL THE WAV UP HERE BV ORDER
OP CARDINAL WYSZYNSKI HIMSELF--AND
THEN YOU MAKE US LOOK FOR YOU / WHAT.
15 THE MATTER WITH YOU ?

THE CARDINAL SENT
YOU ? WHY ? 15
SOMETHING WRONG?

IT

DEPEN 05 ON
YOUR POINT OF
VIEW, FATHER...

UNCLE
WOJ'TYLA'G
MADE THE
t GRAPE f j

THE CARDINAL HAG INSTRUCTED
THAT YOU BE INSTALLED AS AN
A/P£-8&HOP OP CRACOW
--AND we HAVEN'T MUCH TIME/

PON'T BREAK UP THE OUTING FOR THIS/

I MUST SO TO THE CARDINAL IN WARSAW.
k"BUT I'LL BE BACK FOR SUNDAY J.

X MASS, T PROMISE/

GOOD WORK
UNCLE !

WHY ARE
THEY CALLING
HIM “UNCLE"!

A TERM OF ENDEARMENT.
WOJTYLA PREFERS IT FROM
YOUNG PEOPLE.

"AS BISH OP, KAROL WOTTYLA
ANALLY sees THE FULFILLMENT
OF A PREAM-- TO HAVE HlS
MOTHER'S REMAPS BROUGHT
TO CRACOW TO REST 0ES\OE mpr~
THOSE OP HlS FATHER.,- " Wm

H‘ M •••• W}l .I; ■; ^ .M V

&:*&<&< ;
mm

CT^;r?i

AoiMLii iMig !Mi

"THOUGH ST ILL LOW IN THE RANKE OF POLISH
BISHOPS, KAROL'S THOUGHTS ARE IN TUNE WITH
THE TIMES --AND, IN ROME, POPS CTOPA> XX///
CALLS THE ECUMENICAL COUNCIL , TO SEOlN THE
MO PERN! CATION OF CATHOLICISM ''j

"6ISHOP WOCTYLA COMES TO THIS COUNCIL
AS AIPE TO 3/SHOP £UG£t/£ &AZ/AK,

OFFICIAL representative of the POLISH

CHURCH,.,

“ANP HIS RETURN TO ROME CUL-
MINATES IN A SPEECH BEFORE
THE ASSEMBLY-- A SPEECH THAT
6601 NS HIS TRANSFORMATION
FROtfi BISHOP OF pOLAfNP TO MAN
OF THE WORLP..."

“IN LEISURE MOMENTS IN THE
VATICAN ■ HE SPEAKS WITH AS
MANY BISHOPS AS POSSIBLE...'

“HERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME,

BISHOP WOTTYLA TPUCY GRASPS

the international MEANING OF

CATHOLICISM... "t

— 1" HERE/ HE FEELS

A GREAT EXCITEMENT, AS IF ON THE
VERSE OF A GREAT APVENTURE... "

... ANP I SAY.' INCREASE YOUR
TIES WITH THE LAITY" FOR
T/PSY ARE THE STRENGTH OF
w OUR REUNION/ ^

36'ij‘WHn

“BISHOP WOTTYLA SPEAKS
WITH THE TONOUE Of A PHILO
SOPHER, LISTENS WITH THE
CAR OF A STUPENr... "

THIS

WOTTYLA IS
ONE TO WATCH

“AFTER HIS RETURN TQ
CRACOW, Si SHOP WOTTYLA
IS SA PPENEP TO HEAR OF .

the peath of pope S.

JOHN XXIII --FOR THE i
MAN HAP OPENEP f

POORS FOR HIM... " Ml

PO YOU THINK WE HAVE
A CHANCE THIS TIME--

that pope John >5

THEORIES OP CHANGE ,
Witt ee REALI2EP ?~A

'THE RETURN TO ROME FOR THE THIRP SESSION OF THE ECUMENI-
CAL COUNCIL RENEWS ARCHBISHOP WOJTYLAS EXCITEMENT. HE
ALREAPV sees HlS VIEWS BECOMING Policy... "

HIS VOICE WAS A NEW' WINS
AT THE TIME — BUT NOW
HIS WlSPOM IS CLEAR TO
MOST. JOHN WAS A PRO-
PHET, WHILE PAUL IS A
THEORETICAL THINKER

OH / YES ... YOUR hi

eminence/ J4

"THEN, IN IR67,
ARCHBiSHOP
WOJTYlA IS
NAME? THE
CARPtNAL OR
CRACOW... "

J WILL BE NEEI7JNO A NEW
CASSOCK, SISTER. COULP YOU
K SEW ONE FOR ME ?

"NOW KAROL WOJTYLA IS AT THE PINNACLE OF THE POLISH CHURCH.
ONLY CARDINAL PRiWATE *Wv'SZVNSKI IS HIOHcR -- ANP ALL AGREE THAT
THE

"NOW, TRULY, KAROL WOTTVI J
THE SPIRITUAL LEAPSR
NATION.,,

"THE NEXT DECADE IS A PERIOD OF
TRAVEL FOR CARDINAL WDJTYLA. HE SKIS
IN THE TATRA MOUNTAINS, AND THOUGH
HE IS IN HlS 4 OS, HfS TASTE FOR
SPORTS HAS NOT F LAGGED... »

"ATTENDING THE INTERNATIONAL
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS, HE
VISITS AUSTRALIA AND NEW
ZEALAND IN 1473... " tmgBSSA

"IN 1476, CARDINAL WOOTYL A GIVES THE
LENTEN SERMONS BEFORE THE POPE AND
CARDINALS IN THE CURIA OF ROME... "

"IN 1476, HE IS INVITED TO SPEAK AT THE
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN PHILADELPHIA,
BEFORE WHICH HE IS TO SPEAK AT THE HAR

"THE PRIEST: FATHER WITKOWSKI, SENT 6Y THE ARCHPIO
CESE OF PHILADELPHIA TO MEET THE INCOMING CARDINAL
W07TYIA... " |

GOOD AFTERNOON, YOUR
EMINENCE/ WELCOME TO
PHILADELPHIA 7 IT'S SO ,

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN/

EVERYTHING IS PREPARED,

V FOR THE CONGRESS f~/

BLESS YOU, IT'S
SO GOOD TO SEE
YOU AGAIN,
v FATHER / ^

CAG&A/AL

CARDINAL

WOTTYLA/

Si

vv/i

i ■ I

1 ™ n m WmlWM . \

IT'S A SHORT
WALK TO THe
CAR, YOUR ,
EMINENCe/y

X NEVER MIND WALKING.
TELL MB FATHER, WHY IS
EVERYONE STARING AT US*

I RELIEVE IT'S THE
CASSOCK . THEY
aren't Commonly,
WORN IN THIS X
COUNTRY. /

IN ROLAND, THEY ARE WORN every-
where— FOR THEY ARE OUR SYMBOL,
A means of Reminding the people ,

AND THE COMMUNISTS THAT THE /
CLERGY ARE STILL THERE/

"AT THE CONGRESS IN PHILADELPHIA . CARPI NAL
WOTTYLA AGAIN APPRESSES THE PRO&l£M$
FACING THE CHURCH --THE NEED TO PRINTS
RELIGION INTO THE CONTEXT OP THE LAITY '6
LIVES, THE CHALLENGE OF APAPTINS TO
CHANGE, AND THE aueSTION OP 5UPPORTI NG
FREEPOM IN AN EVER MORE TYRANNIZED

MARVELOUS

SPEECH,

CARDINAL/ you

SHOULD HIT
THE COLLEGE

speaking

CIRCUITS IN

THIS

COUNTRY/

YOU KNOW,
THERE
/S ONE
PLACE IN
AMERICA
X WANT

I WANTED TO VISIT YOU
BECAUSE T HAVE MV ,
v PRIEST HERE... S

HE IS YOUR
MOHS/GAtO* - - AND
i am his Bishop. >

HE CAME FROM MY NATIVE POLAND MANY YEARS
AGO. AND FOR AAAT*T YEARS, we have written;
LETTERS TO ONE ANOTHER. -I TOLD THE PEOPLE IN
PHILADELPHIA THAT I SHOULD SEE HIM, WHERE HE
LIVES, HOW HE MANASES. 7WAT IS WHY J AM HERE—

I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR ALL OP
YOU R KlNP WORPS
I'VE NEVER BEEN
PROUPER, j

CAfiPlNAL.-.j^

I REALLY WANTEP To SEE IP ' PO YOU THINK X
YOUR MOUNTAINS WERE AS , CAN CUM 8 IN
LOVELY AS MINE IN POLANPyC THOSE HILLS ?>
THEY ARE. ^ V /

"THE REMAINDER OF
CARPI NAL WOJTYLA'S
VISIT TO AMERICA IS A
WHIRLWIND TOUR OP
CITIES, FROM CHICAGO
TO BUFFALO TO il v<
TORONTO... * I^Os

fifl 'A

’•YET, AS ALWAYS, THE

caRpinal lonos for

POLANP — ANP PIOLANP,

'MM W78/ TRAGEPY ONCE AGAIN STRIKES THE CHURCH
WITH THE PEATH OF POPS PAUL V/. THE EVENT
STRIKES CARPIMAL WOJTVLA HARP,., "i

"THE PS4TH NECESSITATES ANOTHER TRIP TO ROME
FOR CARPlNAt WOJTYLA, ANOTHER ABSENCE FROM
THE LAMP ANP FRlENPS HE LOVES,,, " r

I CAME RIGHT OVER THANK YOU , MIETEK, OUR
WHEN T HEARP THE / TRIAL IS ONLY BEGINNING,
NEWS. I'M SO ■ / THE CARPINALS MUST NOW
SORRY, KAROL/^V CHOOSE ANOTHER POPE,.,,

itcoulpbeJ KAISf)
you, you / ^

KNOW/ y / NO, THE POPE

SHOULP BE ITALIAN/

} K/ M %\ SINCE HE IS PRl-

\ MARILY BISHOP OF

Rome, ^

YOU'RE WHAT THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR” A
MOPERATE FROM A ,
COUNTRY NOT TOO /
POWERFUL OR TOO /
SMALL,,. SOMEONE A
INTEPESTEP IN

SPIRITUAL, /ffm

matters /^mm

THAT'S
' ENOUGH/
PLEASE
FORGET YOUR
FOOLISH ,
FANTASIES/

PETER WAS THE P/PST
BISHOP OF ROME, ANP HE
WASN'T ROMAN. OR EVEN
CATHOLIC, FOR THAT
MATTER. HE WAS A JEW/

"ANP, CARPIMAL WOTTYLA SECRETLY
BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF, FOR HE
IB FREE TO GO HOME WHEN THIS IS
OVER... " ij/ j j yyyyjyyj1"

"ON AUGUST ZG, l«?7B,
POPP XPPU PAUL X
TAKES COMMANP OF THE
SEE OF ST. PETER... "

XOUR HOLINESS ?/
ARE YOU UP?
k YOU'RE RUNNING
Sw LATE / -s

WHAT'S THIS ? X SO TO SAY
MASS, ANP WHEN J COME TO
breakfast, MY ENTIRE

. staff looks like some-.

V ONE HAS PIEP /

WHERE'S CARPWAL
V/LLOT * AS VATICAN
SECRETARY CP STATE,
HE'LL. KNOW WHAT TP.
Po/ FINP HIM/

•AN HOUR LATER
IN CRACOW... "

r FATHER/ WHAT ^
ARE YOU TALKING
v ABOUT * j

"IN HlS HEART, CARPlNAL
WOTTYLA FEARS LOSlNO
MORE THAN HIS ROPE. IN
THE LAST PAPAL ELECTIONS/

he receive? several

VOTES, ANP NOW THE
PAPACY LOOMS HEAVILY
BEFORE HIM.,,

jjMwvytVHHsws'iaii 'ma

mw-w*.

pl|i|p||p§M|

"ITS $A\0 THAT ALL CATHOLICISM
ft8VOLV£$ AROUNP THE VATICAN /
CARPI NAL6 ANp. PRIESTS A\ MC?
PEOPLE PROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD ARRIVE HERB TO WATCH
THE ELECTION OF A NEW POPE ...

A MOURNING ON TOP Of ANOTHER MOURNING/ (T IS A VERY
GRAVE TRIAL POR THE CHURCH, ANP W£ MUST PRAT/ J,

iiil

WHO KNOW#
WH4T AWAITS
. US NOW ? ,

fin^p

IK

_■_!' II . ■

-: . . r .

■"• ■ •

mm

1 : - ; --I ^ =>i- ^ - j -!!^> : ^ - S l : -- --i;-- - ■ ■ :

1: M

|

1

rj ^ -j ^ \-y. y.-y,y? 1

H£Y/ YOU PONT REALLY THINK
I'M- g£ BLECTEQ, PC YOU ?

ANYTHING IS

possible,..anp r

NEEP PICTURED
OF ALL THE
CARPI N ALE/

wwre ottes

WE HAVE A NEW

POPE '" a new pope/

at last/ white $a \oke
there 15 A POPE/

V K/K-4 /4 PAPA / .

FOR IONS HOURS, THE WAITINGS CONTINUES

"AS IF TO Outer THE EXCITED CROWD, A CALM
VOICE RlNSS CUT IN ITALIAN - - THE VOICE OF
THE NEW POPE... " ^ m

I WAS A FA Alt? TO
RECEIVE THIS
NOMINATION / A

WHY NOT? THERE
HAVE SEEN NON-
ITALIAN ft?PES

v BEFORE/ ^

IT DOESN'T MATTER
WW£/?£ HE'S FROM
HE IS A CITIZEN OP
THE WORLD NOW'

EVEN IP £ CANNOT
EXPLAIN MVS ELF WELL
IN Y0UR--OM*--
. ITALIAN LANSUA^Et
\ YOU WILL CORRECT"

\ ME IP I MAKE A >
: V MISTAKE, .^1 1

BUT I TOOK IT IN THE SPIRIT OF
OBEDIENCE TO OUR LORD, ANP IN
TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN HIS MOTHER,
THE MOST HOLY MADONNA,

"the crowd outers anxiously
AS CAGPtMAL P£MCL£ f&JC*
SUDDENLY APPEARS... "

I ANNOUNCE TO YOU A OR BAT JOY/
WE HAVE A POPE / X PRESENT

KAROL cardinal wojtyla of

—AND ALSO TO START ANEW
ON THAT ROAD, THE ROAD OF
HISTORY AND OP THE CHURCH,

A NO SO T PRESENT
MYSELF TO YOU ALL
TO CONFESS OUR
COMMON FAITH, OUf?
HOPE.OUR CONFI-
DENCE IN THE
MOTHER OF
CHRIS T —

MY COMRAPES OF THE PRESS, LET
US NOT 0£ &/0/CVLOI/S. ^

MINUTER, THERE ARE RUMORS THAT
A POLE MAY ge ELECTEP POPS. ANT
^ COMMENTS ?

X HAVE A HOTLINE TO THE '

VATICAN, ANP IF SUCH A THINO
WERE TO HAPPEN, X - - KAZiMfBfZZ
MAMOL ~~ WOLILP BE THE FIRST ,
s. to know about rr /

0 /ill si /w/03om

— JL— £1 |B V JOKE/ y

'•WARSAW, POLAHPi THE SAME PAY-- IN THE
PEPARTMEtiT OF REU&fOUS AFFAIRS... "

MR, KAKOL/ THERE’S SOMETH I NO
YOU SHOULP KNOW,.. >

SERIOUSLY, X SHALL. SUY YOU
ALL CHAMPAGNE IF THE NEW
POPE SHOULP BE POLISH /

LET US
ON TO MORE
URGENT
MATTERS...

WELL, SPIT IT OUT/
I CAN’T KEEP
MEN WAITING/

"THE NEWS SPCEARS RAPlPLY IN flOLANP, TOUCHING OFF
A SERfES OF PIUSRIMAOES TO THE MONASTERY OF
JASNA <SORA , HOME OF THE LANP’S HOLIEST RELIC --
THE PAINTINO CALLEP THE gLACK MAPONNA... "

"THE CARP INALS HAVE ASSEMBLED TO SWEAR FEALTY TO THElR
NEW LEAPER-- SUT THE POMP ACCRUE? TO HlS OFFICE OVER THE
YEAR 5 iS NOT FOR fcDPE JOHN PAUL IT,-. "/ ■'■■

— — -7-7T — — iy<*""itM1 wySzynski/

'^ss i.f ,j / AS primate OF pdlanp

' V}*/ /$S lEfta/ / YOU WERE MY LEADER

W FOR SO LONG/ IT IS

m Ml \ NOT RIGHT THAT THE

WJP / I ■&5gT mf \ LBAPER SHOULP KNEEL

J&wm m yU BEFORE THE
~ ^V/-? J>^s^ FOLLOWER/ _^sg!

v YET , ROPE JOHN pAULir SAYS NOTHING OF
HlS OWN THOUGHTS ON THIS HlSH HONOR.
HE HAS NEW DUTIES TO APJUST TO,
S&SInNING WITH A CONCLAVE OF cardi-
nals, TWO PAYS AFTER HlS ELECTION,,- "

"THERE ARE SOME WHO DISMISS THIS DEPARTURE FROM
PROCEDURE AS A SENTIMENTAL ABERRATION ON THE
POPS' £ PART.., "

LET US EMBRACE INSTEAD"
AS FRIENDS AND AS
IN SOP/

BROTHERS

"IT IS, IN FACT, THE BEGINNING OF A CANDOR
THAT WILL COME TO CHASACTSPtZS THE NEW
PONTIFF — CONTINUING WITH A NEWS CONFER'
£NC£ SEVERAL PAVS LATER

IF THEY'LL

LET MS

ARE YOU GOING
TO VISIT .
POLArtP?

■ OH , THEY DEFINITELY
m. WON'T LET ME / v

WILL YOU CONTINUE
. SX//M& ?

W$m

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN/
THIS PEOPLE'S POPE WILL
t BE THE RUIN OF US/

OH, IF ONLY WE HAP
ANOTHER POPS LIKE
PIUS XXX. HE WAS SO
GOOD. HE NEVER >
EVEN SAMLEP/ y

“SUNPAY, OCTOBER 22, 1970... Ol
THIS PAY, KAROL VOYTYLA OF
POLANP IS OFFICIALLY INAUSUR
ATEP AS THE 264 th POPE OF
the catholic church. "i

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST J OFFER A CORPlAL SREETINS

... J counton the support of your prayers anp

YOUR SOOPWILL IN CARRYING OUT MY MISSION OF
SERVICE TO THE CHURCH ANP MANKINP. MAY CHRIST
V SIV6 YOU HIS 6-RACE ANP HIS PEACE, OVERTURN I NO >
\TH£ BARRIERS OF PJVlSlON ANP MAKlNO ALL ■

gStSL THINOS ONE IN HIM/ ■ — ^

PRAY FOR ME / HELP
MS TO SERVE YOU / ,
. AMEN,

"THE EVENT IS A TTENPEP BY A NUMBER OF PKSNITARIES--THE
KINS ANP QUEEN OF SPAIN, THE HEAP OF THE PEOPLE'S STATE
COUNCIL OF POi-AHO/ THE PRIME MINISTER OF FRANCE, THE U.S.
NATIONAL SECURITY APVISOR Z0ISNI6W 0RZEZINSKI ...ANP,
MOST INTERESTINGLY, THE A SCH0ISHOP OF CANTERBURY,
LEASER OF THE PROTESTANT ANGLICAN CHURCH,., " i >

“ALL IN ALL, 300,000 PEOPLE

AOC l*J ATTCUOAki/'C IM fWC

"HUNPREPS OF POPS JOHN PAUL II'S COUNTRYMEN COME TO THE INAUGURATION-- ANP,ON THE NEXT PAY,

YOU EH OULP see THE
PEOPLE BACK HOME/ IT
WAS QUITE A THRIU- J
s. FCR THEM / _

Wf 30V£RNM€NT
WASN'T VERY THRlLLEP,
THOUGH,.. NOR THE
V RUSSIANS/ _

they refusep travel

PERMITS TO SEVERAL
FRIENPS X‘P PERSONALLY
INVITEP HERE.

LATER

THESE ARE PANGEROUS
TIMES POR PUBLIC FIGURES,
HAVE YOU CONSIPEREP
WEARING A BULLET-
PROOF VEST ?

AH, MlETEK. HOW COULP X BE
A FRI6NP TO THE PEOPLE IF I
WALKEP among them in fear 2

YOU JMF, MY FRieNP* IF IT'S ANY
CONSOLATION, I'VE IMPORTEP POLISH
NUNS TO PREPARE MV POOP" SO AT
LEAST THE ITALIAN COOKING WON'T
SET ME. ■-

YOUR

PINNER IS
R6APY, YOUR
HOLINESS.y

'‘FINALLY, AFTER SEEMING YEARS , THE
FR lENPS ARE (SOME, THE REPORTERS
ARE SOME , THE ^PECTATOW ANP THE
PEVOUT ARE GONE.., "w — ; T"WT

" POES HE THINK ABOUT HIS PARENTS,
HlS LIFE, THE STRANGE ANP ClROil*
TOUS PATH THAT BROUGHT HIM TO
HIS OFFICE ? " rZZS* J~

"ONLY POPE JOHN
PAUL XL REMAINS,
ALONE,,. X CAN
ONLY IMAGINE WHAT
EMOTIONS TROUBLE
HIM IN HIS MOMENTS
OF SOUTUPE.,, "i

/ " POES HE LONG TO BE A SIMPLER —

“ A NP PERHAPS HAPPIER— PARISH PRIEST
SOMEWHERE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF
CRACOW? "

.

TO*

OES HE SIMPLY ACCEPT ? I PON'T KNOW,,. ANP PERHAPS I NEVER

r>i j-r ttuc Osoc: d Arfdki I /na.# ccpipc uc TUP

"IN MBX/CO, HE SPEAKS OP THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF /WEN , REGARP LESS OF PACE OR STATUS.',

rnimM

MIN XRBLANP, HE PREACHES TOTAL EQUALITY, EXHORTING
CATHOLIC ANP PROTESTANT TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A
NEW IRELANP. **

"IN HIS NATIVE POLAND, HE PESCRI8ES
THE PlGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL,
SUPERIOR TO THE /MACHINERY OF ANY
STATE. , v| ■■ TT"

"ANP FINALLY, TOPAY, OCTOBER Z, W7R, HE IS IN AMERICA. ON MY
TURF, NEW YORK CITY. " 11.^7. j ; ■ . I -» .'itVA'. —

ANP HERE I AM/ WAITING FOR HIM TO SPEAK. Ti
HOPING FOR THAT SINGLE INSIGHT THAT WILL -
\ SOMEHOW UNLOCK HIM FOR ME. .

ilitfN ~

At J

"THE YEAR AFTER HIS INAUGURATION IS A WHIRLWIND OF TRAVELLING, AS POPE JOHN PAULII CARRIES HIS
MESSAGE TO HlS NEW SEE/ MOLDING EMPHASIS TO FIT THE SPECIFIC N6EPS OF EACH LANP " t

"mayee rvw just ge<H<s fooush , you

CAN'T SUM UP A /WAN — JtA/Y /MAN-- IN
ONE OR TWO UNES, "

IT'S MY GREAT HONOR TO
PCS SENT TO YOU — ///£ I
#OL /#£$$, POP£ i
N JTOPA> PAUL XT/ J

riWiw

, ^ i I f jVl

C HOW CAN THEY LET HOODLUMS
t LIKE THAT IN HERE 2 THIS IS
C GOING TO Sg A £>/SA$r£A /

*£PfLOGUe--J AM WRONG IN THAT
/MOMENT OP POU8T< T AM WRONG."

RACK 'EM UP/ STACK 'EM UP,
BUST '£M IN TWO / HOLY
FATHER, WE'RE FOR YOU,'

HEY, MAN / WHAT
YOU LO£XP/A/’ AT?

"SUPPENL V, HE IS THERE
4NP YOU CAN FEEL THE
CONTAGIOUS EXCITEMENT
CRACKUIWG THROUGH THE
STANPS, ANP THE SILENCE
$PR$AP» UK& A HUSHEP
Ifs *.

PEACE 8E WITH VOU

mm

SH

» -

1 ? ■

fc

"... ANP, in THAT MOMENT. it $£EMS LIKE THE ENTIRE WORLD (S •
WAITING FOR POPS JOHN PAUL XX TO SP£AK ... "

" PEACE XI

ge with 1;

YOU / " £

PMOM^IP)

THESE ARE THE FIRST WORPS THAT
TESuS SftXE TO HIS APOSTLES AFTER
THE RESURRECTION... TONIGHT, IN THE
NAME OF THE loRP JESUS CHRIST,,.
IN THE Ml PST OF A WORLP THAT IS
ANXIOUS A0OUT ITS OWN EXISTENCE,
I REPEAT THESE WORPS TO YOU, FOR
THEY ARE THE WORPS OF LIFE:

"X HAP KNOWN KIPS LIKE THIS/ MES SEP OVER FROM SlRTH, NOT LISTENING TO
ANYONE— NOT PARENTS, NOR POLICE, NOR SOCIAL WORKERS. SOMEHOW, IN A FEW

secoNPS/ we gets through to theaa... " ( rmrrr, — r~7rmm — r*

WHAT THE — ?
/M POSS/0L£,

mm

ANP x MOW— T//AT f$ iwy
T*/£ PO/>£ <SA£AT/ "

WE CANNOT STANP 1PLY
gY WHEN THOUSANPS OF
HUMAN BEINGS ARE
PYlNG OF HUNGER. NOR
CAN WE REMAIN INPiF*
FERENT WHEN THE
RIGHTS OF THE HUMAN
SPIRIT ARE TRAmPLEP

on...

ANP SO, IN THE NAME OF THE SOLIDARITY
THAT glNPS US ALL TOGETHER IN A COMMON
HUMANITY, I AGAIN PROCLAIM THE DIGNITY
OF EVERY HUMAN PERSON...

...WITH PEEP CONVICTION ANP
AFFECTION, I REPEAT TO YOU THE
WORPS THAT X APPRESSEP TO Th£
WORLP WHEN X TOOK UP MY
APOSTOLIC MINISTRY IN THE
SERVICE Of ALL MEN ANP
^WOMEN : “ PO NOT 8E A FRAiP. "

"ALL r CAN ee SURE OF ts THAT I HAVE
EXPERIENCE? SOMSTMA/O ... AHO THAT I
AM NOT 7H£ ONLY ONE/*' iM

"WHEN IT 15 ALL OVER, X HAV6 THE STRANGEST FEELING
OF SATISFACTION. X CAN'T 5HAK6 IT FDR DAYS AN OX
DON'T KNOW IF X CAN PUT IT INTO WORDS.,, *

"THAT IS THE ONLY

time x see rope

JOHN PAUL TZ. FROM
there, HE Goes ON
TO the rest of the

COUNTRY— AND LATEfi
CONTINUES HlS ——
TRAVELS— " EftS

"TRAVELLING TO
ZAIRE, HE SPEAKS OF
PRINTING THEIR
VARIETY OF CATHOLI-
CISM INTO LINE WITH
THE AFRICAN ,—r-
EXPERIENCE..." l" —

“IN FRANCE. HE EMPHASIZES THE
EN THE PURPOSE OF RELIGION
HOPING IN THAT WAY TO FIND
HUMANISM IN CHRISTIANITY...

* IN GERMANY, HE MAKES WHAT HE TERMS 'A PIL-
GRIMAGE TO THE LAND OF LUTHER', DESCRIBING
SIMILARITIES OF PRINCIPLES IN CATHOLICISM AND
LUTHERANISM... " r ,

PRESERVE THE Fl
, VALUES OF THE
V CHURCH-,

' IN TURKEY, POPE JOHN PAUL H PLEADS
FOR ECUMENISM WITH THE EASTERN ORTHO-
DOX CATHOLIC CHURCH --AND PRAISES
JSLAM AND ITS MAJOR VIRTUES, SUCH AS
ITS DOCTRINE OF THE ONE TRUE SOD.,. "

"AND, OF COURSE, DUTIES IN
ROME OCCUPY MOST OF HIS
TIME ANP THOUGHT, AS WE
STRUGGLES TO PROVIDE
LEADERSHIP IN AN unstable
world,,, FOR Ml ho, for exam-
ple, A COUNCIL ON PAMtty

MArreN£... ", ■

'FAMILIES MUST
FUNDAMENTAL

“IN BRAZIL, HE REPEATS THE
MESSAGE HE GAVE TO MEXICO
ALL MEN HAVE INALIENABLE
RIGHTS THAT EVEN THE
MIGHTIEST OF MEN MUST
NOT TREAD UPON.,. " . —

THEN, ON MAY 13, IQ$l

" — TRAGEDY
STRIKES/"

ni±i

1

"LIKE EVERY OTHER PAY, I GO TO THE PAPER
THIS PAY, I WISH X HAPN'T... " \ — ' ■■■■ ■■■■

HEY, SET THIS, THE POPE WAS ' COUPLE OF AMERICAN
SHOT IN ST. PETERS . WOMEN SOT HURT, TOO.

SQUARE TOPAY WHILE HE / — — . , —

WAS SREETfNS TOURISTS. S \\

WA-A-ATff

I NEVER SAIP X WAS--ANP THIS HAS NOTHIN®
TO PO WITH REUSION, POPE JOHN PAUL. II IS
A VOICE FOR JUSTICE ANP WlSPOM IN THE ,
_ WORLP/ A VOICE OF HOPE-- <T

/ —ANP ^THERE'S NOT SO \
/ MUCH HOPE IN THE WORLP
l THAT WE CAN AFFPRP TO }
\ LOSE A SlNSLE SOURCE /
^ V OF IT. ■ ■

SAY WHERE I A/W SOINS... I JUST
BE ALONE FOR AWHILE, TO /WAKE

THANK YOU / ISN'T IT
HOPP/8LS */ HAVE
S. YOU H6ARP-- ? a

YES.

I'VE HEARP.

"ALMOST WITHOUT REALIZING IT, I AM THERE
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEPRAL ON HATH AVENUE.,. 1

excuse me.-.po you

NEEP HELP WITH THE
STEPS ?

YOUR ACCENT— ARE
YOU POLISH?

A LONG TIME I'VE SEEN IN
THIS COUNTRY— 0UT HE IS
t STILL MY BISHOP? ^

WHY PIP THEY HAVE
TO SHOOT HIM * NOW
WE ARE ALL LOST,.,

"ANP I REALIZE ...

HS WOULDN'T DESPAIR,..
HE WOULD LOOK SE>ONO

the moment, to see

SCO'S HAND IN AU.
THINGS,., "

"I ALMOST AGREE WITH HER, HOPE HAS BEEN SLAIN,

rr seems, and only despair is left buti can'x,

SOMEHOW I JUST CAN'T/

— • ^0 HOW

po you feel about your
attach er? /

"H £ MUST HAVE HEARD THIS ONE, THEN, BECAUSE HUNDREDS Or M.
LIONS OF VOICES WERE SAVING THE SAMS THING. MAYBE IT ISN'T A
MIRACLE THAT POPE JOHN PAULXI RECOVERS, But IT SURE FEELS

uks one...

X POfi&tve HIM. WHAT ELSE CAN I QOf
X HAVE NOT THE HEART FOR MALICE / _

YOU KNOW. , . AFTER I WAS ELECTED,
X VISITED A SICK FRIEND HERE- X

Said then j'P never want to BB/

. STUCK HERE MYSELF.

I'LL HAVE TO WATCH WHAT
r SAY FROM NOW ON. J

ONE PEOUEST. MAY WE DETOUR BEFORE I
LEAVE? I'D LIKE T Or^BET THE W OMAN WHO
V. WAS INJURED IN THE SHOOTING-

AH /MY STAR PATIENT, ARE YOU FEEUNG
WELL ENOUGH TO GO HOME NOW ? ^

WELL... TO
THE VATICAN
PERHAPS, y

THEN IT'S OFF TO YOUR APARTMENTS FOR
REST AN D RECUPERATION. YOU MUST
START LOOKING AFTER YOUR OWN
N. HEALTH, YOU KNOW,

OH(r

HAVE yo^r
FOR THAT/,

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Pope John Paul II is welcomed enthusiastically wherever he travels around the globe. His frequent trips have generated many
exciting new projects for the Pontiff. Indeed, this very magazine came about as a result of the Pope’s visit to Japan in February, 1981 .

Father Julian is a Polish priest now serving at the Shibuya Catholic Church in Tokyo. He is also a close friend and neighbor of
the Marvel Comics representative in Japan, Gene Pelc. Intrigued by Marvel’s biography of St. Francis, Francis , Brother of the Univer-
se, Fr. Julian passed copies of it to members of the Pope’s entourage during the Tokyo visit.

An idea was soon hatched: a Marvel comic about the life story of Karol Jozef Wojtyla!

After conferring with the Pope, Fr. Julian arranged a meeting between Pelc and the Pope’s chosen representative, Fr.
Mieczyslaw Malinski — a lifelong friend of the Pope, and one of Europe’s foremost religious writers. As someone who had lived with
the Pope, gone to school with him, laughed and cried with him, only Fr. Malinski could provide the intimate details of the man, Karol
Wojtyla.

Flying to Marvel’s headquarters in New York City, Gene Pelc and Fr. Malinksi met with Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, Writer
Steven Grant and Artist John Tartaglione. With the aid of Lucy Mazareski (who helped interpret for Fr. Malinski), the ball was soon roK
ling.

Providing anecdotes, insights, history and bits of human interest gathered from his 40 odd years of close friendship with the
Pope, Fr. Malinski related events that have never before been told to the general public in any medium. True insights and facts about
Pope John Paul II are told for the First time in this Marvel magazine.

Production of this magazine was temporarily slowed when martial law was recently imposed in Poland and communications